Planets boys grab top AA spots, but they still eye team crown

By DEREK PYDA Eagle Staff Writer

May 09, 2007 Last Updated: May 09, 2007 03:13 PM High School

Stephen Jackson of Mars finished fourth in the 200 meters in a time of 23.09 seconds Tuesday at the WPIAL Class AA Northern Qualifier.

ADAMS TWP — Members of the Mars boys track and field team had much more on their minds than Tuesday's WPIAL Class AA Northern Qualifiers.

But it sure didn't show, as the Planets tallied five first-place finishers: Cody Kier (1,600-meter run), Derek Workman (800 run), Justin Piocquidio (long jump) and the 400 and 1,600 relays.

The top eight athletes in each event are assured of a spot at the WPIAL individual championships at South Side Beaver High School next Tuesday.

But as Kier explained, he and his teammates have another meet this week.

"I'm saving a lot for Thursday (WPIAL team championships)," he said. "Winning a WPIAL title would mean so much to our team. It would be our first one."

Kier qualified for his fourth WPIAL individual finals with a time of 4 minutes, 41.7 seconds in the 1,600 event.

Also placing first in their events were Freeport's Brian Zimmerman (javelin) and Matt Smith and Zane Bowser, who tied for first in the high jump and pole vault, respectively.

Zimmerman, whose throw measured 174 feet, 5 inches on Tuesday, is the defending WPIAL champion in the event.

Nate Kotecki managed a second-place finish for the Yellowjackets in the triple jump at 42-3C\v, while Brady Sherrieb duplicated that finish in the long jump at 21 feet.

The Planets' Brandon Stadelmyer finished third in the 800 run.

Freeport (400) and Mars (3,2000) each advanced a boys relay team, which placed third Tuesday.

In the girls competition, Freeport's Megan Affrica and Cassaundra Dumot tied for first in the high jump at 4-10.

"That's my career best, 4-10," said Dumot, a junior. "I've never been to the WPIAL Championships before."

Also moving on in the high jump was Freeport's Andrea McQueen, who tied for third place.

"Those three girls have done a great job all year for us," said Freeport high jump coach Bruce Yard. "They've consistently gotten to 4-10 and higher. Megan got to 5 feet earlier this season."

Freeport also advanced Maurielle Blake and Allison McClelland, who finished second and third in the long jump, respectively, and Marrissa Malcolm, who tied for second in the pole vault.

Note: The Mars boys will host the WPIAL Class AA team final on Thursday, which will include Riverside, Southmoreland and New Brighton.

The following is the complete list of Butler County qualifiers who have advanced to next Tuesday's WPIAL Class AA Championships at South Side Beaver High School.Boys3,200-meter relay: 3-Mars (Derek Workman, Eric Standish, Justin Stadelmyer, Chris Alikhani);

110-meter hurdles: 7-Dan Lynch (M) 16.39;

1,600-meter run: 1-Cody Kier (M) 4:41.7; 8-Chris Alikhani (M) 4:53.7;

400-meter relay: 1-Mars (Justin Piocquidio, Bill Bair, Josh Keil, Steve Jackson) 44.12; 3-Freeport (Nate Kotecki, Kirk Naedele, Matt Caripolti, Clay Fritz, Andrew Vidra, Jake Morrison) 45.35;

800-meter run: 1-Derek Workman (M) 2:00.2; 3-Brandon Stadelmyer (M) 2:06.05;

200-meter dash: 4-Steve Jackson (M) 23.09;

3,200-meter run: 5-Cody Kier (M) 10:22.3; 8-Nick Edinger (M) 10:39.1;

1,600-meter relay: 1-Mars (Bill Bair, Dan Lynch, Brandon Stadelmyer, Steve Jackson, Justin Piocquidio, Derek Workman) 3:34

High jump: 1 (tie)-Matt Smith (F) 5-8; 4-Ian Mundy (M) 5-8; 5 (tie)-Justin Piocquidio (M) 5-8;

Long jump: 1-Justin Piocquidio (M) 21-1; 2-Brady Sherrieb (F) 21-0;

Triple jump: 2-Nate Kotecki (F) 42-3C\v;

Discus: 6-Miles Smolic (F) 133-10;

Javelin: 1-Brian Zimmerman (F) 174-5;

Pole vault: 1 (tie)-Zane Bowser (F) 11-6

Girls3,200-meter relay: 8-Freeport (Jordan Dunn, Kyrene Haynes, Kristen Prazenica, Christina Marty) 10:39.20;

800-meter run: 5-Jordan Dunn (F) 2:33.1;